Please photograph Rob Delamater and Gaetan Caron of Lost Art Salon for the Stylemaker Spotlight column. We'll need them in the same picture, full-body shot on a white background. A couple of poses would be nice. Thanks!
Ran on: 08-29-2010
Rob Delamater (left) and Gaetan Caron

Playing host to overnight guests is all about the right mix of tried-and-true etiquette with a little bit of frivolity thrown in. While a hotel can't compare to the warmth of a friend or family member's home, there are practical tips hosts can adopt, starting with lending guests a set of spare keys. We asked some of San Francisco's tastemakers to divulge what's in their arsenal of tricks for making guests feel at home.

Victoria Smith, writer of the blog SF Girl By Bay (sfgirlbybay.com), says she tells her guests to make themselves at home. "What's mine is theirs to use - from my book collection to the stacks of blankets I keep close by for chilly nights. Whatever's in the fridge is theirs to enjoy too. I like to stock it with lots of fresh fruits, cheeses, wine and local gourmet specialties like Hooker's salted caramels from Bi-Rite, made here in San Francisco.

"Another thing I like to leave out in the guest bedroom are maps, Muni schedules and guidebooks on San Francisco. Guests shouldn't have to feel like they can't go off adventuring on their own.

"And maybe most importantly, I cozy up the guest room. I usually put out fresh flowers, candles, fresh linens with lots of comfy pillows and a fluffy duvet - kind of my way of creating their own little bed and breakfast. "

Chad DeWitt of DeWitt Design Studios, Inc. (dewittdesignstudios.com) jokes that he's not much of a host, and his idea of making someone feel welcome is a shot of whiskey. However, he's gleaned some seasonal-appropriate tips worth sharing from a recent stay abroad.

"I'm a huge fan of scents, and at the home I stayed at in England, my host, Ann Pickett, had the house scented with orange and cinnamon candles, and most importantly, had a large bowls of clementines, with cinnamon sticks and greenery stuffed in between them. I liked the visual tie-in between the scent and the real oranges and cinnamon.

"Serve your guests hot mulled wine. As most Bay Area folk, I would never dream of tainting my wine with spices, but when it was described to me as hot sangria, my mind changed, and from that point, I was sold. It's delicious and more familiar to Americans when served with fruit slices in it."

Giselle Gyalzen, owner of the modern design store Rare Device (raredev ice.com), likes to make sure guests aren't suffering from empty-stomach syndrome after a long day of traveling. "Definitely offer food and drinks when they arrive, as it's possible they may have not eaten in a while."

Her guests are coached on how to use the household electronics from the television remote to the espresso machine and how to access Wi-Fi.

For guests who've already tackled San Francisco's day-tripper must-sees, Gyalzen offers to introduce them to shops and restaurants off the traditional tourist-beaten path. "On the top of my list will be: Flora Grubb, Randall Museum (if they have kids), Bernal Hill for a view of the city, a hike through Glen Canyon Park and a neighborhood breakfast spot."

Before her guests depart, she treats them to a small token of San Francisco to remember their visit. "I love the San Francisco stamp set from Yellow Owl Workshop (yellowowlworkshop.com)."

Lynn Goldfinger-Abram, owner of the online antique shop Paris Hotel Boutique (parishotelboutique.com), knows how cramped San Francisco living arrangements can be. Even if your home is small, she suggests carving out a little space for guests' belongings, whether it's a spare shelf in the bathroom for toiletries, room in the closet to hang clothes or a luggage rack.

Guests are also treated to a welcome basket filled with travel-size toiletries and a pair of hotel slippers as well as fresh bath towels and washcloths. Fittingly, the bedside is adorned with hotel silver filled with fresh flowers, a candle, a stack of magazines and a couple of books.

Gold-finger-Abram still likes to treat guests to a bit of the authentic San Francisco hotel experience, especially around the holidays. "We have all of these decadent old hotels at our fingertips. It's really magical." Her holiday favorites include the Fairmont Hotel's Nutcracker Tea (fairmont.com/sanfrancisco), Tea Under the Tree at Sir Francis Drake Hotel (sirfrancisdrake.com) and high tea at the Palace Hotel's Garden Court (sfpalace.com).

Gaétan Caron, co-owner of Lost Art Salon (lostartsalon.com), known for its original collections of Modern-era art (1900s to 1960s) sourced from the estates of artists around the world, lives 2 1/2 hours outside of San Francisco in an off-the-grid house. "With everyone's diet restrictions nowadays and the complications it may bring, and because we have a young child and orchard activities we need to tend to, we usually ask our guests ahead of time to participate in creating the menu and (to be) in charge of a meal or two. It takes away the feeling one may have that the hosts would not want anybody else in their kitchen and it communicates community values.

"Something else we like to do with our guests is to bring them into our vegetable garden and orchard and introduce them to all that is in season and ready to harvest. For most people, it is an experience that they no longer have and that reminds them of their childhood when visiting their grandparents or aunts or uncles.

"A tradition we have is to put together a full French toast or crepes breakfast (we let our guests decide) with fresh breads from the city and the fruit of the orchard (fresh or canned from the previous summer)."

Rob Delamater, also a co-owner of Lost Art Salon, says that when he picked out his sofa, he did so with guests in mind. "Once the back cushions are removed, it's like a bed. And both of my last two guests told me that they had the best night of sleep during their trip on that sofa. I always give guests many more blankets and pillows than they say they need.

"When guests arrive, I try not to have anything planned for the next morning. If you plan an early day trip departure or breakfast out, then you lose that casual intimacy. When everyone is still in their pajamas, curled up on the sofa and sipping their first coffee, you can really get comfortable and connect.

"Instead of assuming that I know what my guests like to eat (or being able to predict what new diet or cleanse they are on), I wait until they have arrived to go grocery shopping together. I live down the block from Bi-Rite Market, so I take them on an authentic neighborhood culinary adventure. This way we get the foods they really enjoy, and they know where to go when they want to pick up some things on their own (or buy you a fabulous 'thank you' gift)."